Mepaco Blog

Reliable by Design

Designed by the Mepaco group, this system (above video) was engineered to formulate ground meats. It addresses the customer's production goals for speed, flexibility and accuracy with the utmost attention to a safe and sanitary design. In addition, the system provides efficient transfers that reduce transport time and eliminates transfer issues that result in lost yields.

Highlighted in the video animation:

Our Clean-Sweep surge loader provides added surge to aid in the turn-over of batches while its unique design eliminates product harborage and completely cleans out between batches.

The two-tier conveyor belt with integrated metal detector flips the trim for further visual inspection of contaminants.

Pivoting drop-down conveyors are designed to pivot between required processes and lower for easier sanitation.

Our overlapping paddle mixer-blenders and mixer-grinders provide a quick and accurate blend with minimal temperature rise. The dual pre-blend system is equipped with vacuum sampling capability for testing lean-point for accurate formulation.

This system (see video link) was designed to increase capacity and flexibility for processing sauces and soups for a commercial food manufacturer.

The Column Dumper feeds the ThermaBlendTM Cooker with recipe ingredients. The 200 gallon ThermaBlendTM with heat transfer jacket, cooks the product while being gently agitated by dual ribbons.

After the batch is cooked, it is released into a drop tank which is jacketed for maintaining temperature and includes an agitator for continued dispersion of particulates. The batches are then pumped to downstream packaging operations.

The sanitary design platform allows safe and easy access for maintenance and sanitation.

For maximum flexibility, the system allows for two different batch processes or doubling batches to accommodate production demands.

The night shift has completed their work and the sanitation team begins flooding the process room with cleaning chemicals, water and spray to soak and sanitize every nook and cranny. And what often gets blasted away? The drain plug often goes missing. Sometimes the cleaning crew doesn’t even know it went down the drain. Sometimes the production staff starting up the next shift also doesn’t know it is missing.

Many food processing people have a similar story, so Mepaco invented a tool-less self-containing plug that is impossible to lose and easy to appreciate.

Mepaco’s plug ejects far enough to release the waste, but is restrained against a solid welded restrictive barrier that holds the plug in line, without limiting performance, or enabling escape.

Other plug designs don’t hold up to rigorous cleaning and aren’t designed to prevent the harboring of bacteria. While sanitation teams want easy to clean solutions that will pass inspection, production wants efficiency with no loss of product. Losing plugs are no longer a concern with these self-containing plugs.

In the photo are samples that we provide to customers to show the different types of finishes available in the design and manufacturing of equipment for industries that require a high degree of sanitation.

From the left:

2B Finish: Has common corrosion resistance properties, heat resistant, smooth (not brushed) steel. The RA (roughness average) is 36 to 15 depending on the gauge of the material.

#4 Finish: Is Characterized by short, polished brushed lines and is suitable for caustic wash down procedures. The RA is from 29 – 40 depending on the gauge of the material.

Pickle Passivation: A treatment also referred to as descaling, pickle passivation removes the scale and leaves a matte finish that is free from contamination. Apache’s tests have proven an increase in RA smoothness up to 25%, compared to measurements before the material was pickle passivated.

Bead Blast: Bead blasting utilizes material such as glass, ceramic beads to produce a non-directional, textured surface with a satin appearance and low reflectivity. The finish is not necessarily smooth, depending on the process and blasting medium. RA readings are typically greater than 45.

Electropolish: Surface metal is dissolved, removing all embedded contaminants, which creates a smooth, mirror-like finish. Apache’s tests have proven to increase smoothness up to 50%, compared to measurement before the material was electropolished.

The Apache Corporation and the Mepaco group work continuously in the manufacturing community to promote careers in manufacturing. In honor of Manufacturing Month, we are sharing a new video on the making of Mepaco stairs and platform.

A new video series, “This is What I Make”, features fabricators who have volunteered to put their work on video to educate youth and prospects how Apache’s equipment is made and the tasks involved in the process. In the video, Matt demonstrates reading engineering drawings, measuring to verify tolerances, welding and grinding in order to fabricate a stairs and platform that food plant customers use to maintain tall equipment at a safe level.

Apache is planning on making a video for each product segment to demonstrate the job duties in making our custom products.

These manufacturing career videos will be available on Mepaco’s website, social media and workforce partnering websites.

The Mepaco group has expertise in manufacturing screw conveyor systems for many food industries and applications. The articulating screw conveyor is part of the customizable product offering that includes screw feeders and surge loaders.

In the video, the articulating screw conveyor is animated to demonstrate:

Lowering and elevating capabilities for safe and efficient sanitation and maintenance

Pivoting capabilities that allow for versatile production possibilities

These articulating conveyors have been designed with different pivot configurations, CIP (clean-in-place) capabilities, pneumatically controlled safety grating and covers, and electropolished food contact surfaces.

Mepaco’s Pallet Retention System (PRS) is anoption on Dumper equipment that reduces the risk of foreign matter like wood and nails from contaminating your food production process.

A manual or optional pneumatic clamp safely secures the combo throughout the dumping process. As the dump cycle begins, the pallet is immediately secured so once the combo reaches 90-deg, the combo can complete the dump cycle apart from the pallet. In addition, a Liner Retention System (LRS) prevents the liner from separating from the combo and falling into the hopper. Upon completion of the dump cycle, the dumper and frame are reunited and the carriage assembly returns back to the start-load position.

This design limits the potential of foreign material from entering the product stream.

The Pallet Retention System (PRS) and the Liner Retention System (LRS) are both available on the DP3000 Pivot Dumper and the HD3000 High Lift Dumpermodels.

The Mepaco group has just released a new website design that provides users with intuitive access to products and industries. Simplified site navigation and enhanced search capability will make it easier for visitors to find information about our food processing systems and industry experience, including:

Blenders

Cookers

Grinders

Surge Feeders

Dumpers

Lifts

Conveyors

Integrated systems

Many videos and animations have been added to the website, as well as easy access to brochures and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). The new website will also perform very well on mobile devices.